Changes

During 1981, 5883 spent most of the year in Bewdley paint shop undergoing an overhaul, being stripped to the frames in the process. Leaking gutters were replaced with new guttering and a number of rotten panels were also replaced. At the same time the opportunity was taken to replace the glass removed with toughened glass. All the doors were removed, stripped down and repaired before being rehung. The droplights were removed and repaired or replaced and fitted throughout with new straps. The interior of the brake end was burned off, repainted and re-grained, and the compartments and corridor re-varnished. The carriage was repainted and lettered in 1934 livery. 5883 was also reupholstered with new specially made 1934 GWR pattern material.<ref>SVR News 59, 62, 66</ref>

5883 underwent further repairs at Bewdley in 1991. A section of bottom stringer had to be replaced along with some of the exterior cladding sheets. The interior was in reasonable condition, needing only a few tongue-and-groove boards to be replaced in the corridor followed by repainting and re-varnishing. the interior. The carriage was then moved to Kidderminster and lifted for a bogie change, together with repairs to the draw gear, vacuum and steam heating gear.<ref>SVR News 100</ref> Another ‘5-yearly lift’ was carried out in 1997, during which brake shafts and hangers were repaired.<ref>SVR News 125</ref>